SPRINGDALE -- A facility to turn Springdale's sludge into fertilizer took a step closer to reality Wednesday with the hiring of a construction manager to oversee the project.
The Springdale Water & Sewer Commission voted Wednesday to contract with Springdale-based Multi-Craft Contractors for the sludge drying facility. The facility, planned for the waste water treatment plant on Silent Grove Road, is in the design phase, according to Heath Ward, executive director of Springdale Water Utilities.
Springdale’s Water & Sewer Commission also approved:
• An engineering contract to Garver Engineers for flow equalization at the waste water treatment plant, continuation of the Spring Creek sanitary sewer upgrade and the Country Club sanitary sewer upgrade.
• Extending the contract to provide water and sewer services to Tontitown for another five years.• A request by Lowell for a water line extension.
Source: Staff report
"Looking at this project, we wanted to reduce our risk and do everything within the law to have a positive outcome," Ward told commission members during the meeting. "A lot of entities, including the University of Arkansas, are using a construction manager model. It gives you a partnership with your engineering firm, owner and construction manager."
Multi-Craft was one of three candidates for the job and was selected because of its in-house electrical engineers and robotics experts, Ward said.
"We felt they brought the boots-on-the-ground expertise we need," he said. "They know how to look at something and know if it is right or wrong."
The sludge-drying facility needs to operate flawlessly, said Rick Pulvirenti, chief operating officer and engineering director for Springdale Water Utilities. It will be one of the largest in both the region and state, Ward said.
Springdale sludge goes to the Waste Management landfill in Tontitown. The sludge dryer will enable Springdale to turn the sludge into fertilizer that can be sold, Ward said.
"The money's not that much," he said. "The biggest value we get is cost avoidance from future landfill cost. As landfill space gets smaller, the price is going to go up."
There will be different contractors to work on the facility with 15 phases of contracts, Ward said. The facility is expected to be finished as early as 2018 and no later than 2019, he said.
The construction manager will administer the project, make sure the contractors are working safely and will work with the Water Department, he said.
NW News on 08/18/2016